Closing my eyes, I tried to think of what would calm him down. But his hands had reached my shoulders. I racked my brain, searching for an answer, when all I could think of was what calmed me.

My entire body shook with fear, but I managed to inhale a deep enough breath to desperately sing, “This little… light of mine, I’m… gonna let it shine. This little light… of mine, I’m gonna… let it shine. This little light of… mine, I’m gonna… let it shine. Let it… shine, let it shine… let it shine…”

Flame’s hands stilled on the side of my neck as the words trailed off to a complete stop. His breathing was strained, the warm crackled puffs of air flowing over my face. I was frozen to the spot. But then his hands began to shake profusely, and as I forced myself to open my eyes, I was faced with two lost inky pools staring at me in confusion. I held my breath, as Flame’s eyes rapidly flitted from side to side. And then I saw it, a flicker of recognition jolting him from the darkness possessing his mind.

On a shocked hiss, Flame staggered backwards until he crashed against the far wall and he slumped to the floor. His hands lifted in front of his face, and he stared at them as if he could not believe what he had just done.

His hands lowered.

His lips shook.

And as those tired dark eyes filled back up with life, he paused in breathing, then whispered, “Maddie…?”

Chapter Eleven

Flame

I was in the Punishment Cellar and he’d come for me. I was in the darkness; I’d been there for a long time…

Above me I heard the hatch open. He jumped in beside me, the pale light from above making it easy for me to see the blade in his hands.

He stank of alcohol. And I could hear him breathing heavily. I heard him unbuckle his belt. I closed my eyes when he began to walk toward me. This time he didn’t give instruction, he just turned me round, removed my pants, spread my legs, and pushed against me.

I gritted my teeth when the pain came. My fingernails scraped against the walls, as I tried not to cry out. Then came the blade, scraping down my back.  I felt the blood begin to pour; I felt better. It still hurt, but he was freeing me from the flames, from the evil within. He said he was taking the evil from my flesh.

He grunted in my ear and his breath washed over my face. It stank of the alcohol he always drank. It made me feel sick. But I couldn’t be sick or he would get angry.

Then he moved faster. It hurt more and more. My hands trembled against the wall, but he didn’t stop. He kept on pushing harder, the blade slicing along my skin, freeing the flames. Then he dropped the blade and his hands gripped my hips, fingers digging in deep. I hated him touching me. I had evil in my veins, and it took her from us. He’d told me it was why she was gone—because of my touch. That the flames within me infected her, making her think evil thoughts… making her do that sinful thing that left us alone together.

I tried to breathe. I tried to open my mouth, to tell him not to touch me or he would be infected too, but he slammed into me one more time, shouting in my ear as he pressed me against the wall.

I waited for him to move, not wanting his chest to touch my back. He staggered back and I dropped to the floor. I glanced round. I could see him standing, looking down at me. His fists were clenched. Automatically, I covered my head with my arms. He normally hit me. He would get angry after he took me, saying it was needed for my soul.

Suddenly, he spit at me, the wetness hitting my cheek. “You evil fucking retard!” he snapped, and kicked out his foot, hitting me on the leg. “It’s your fault she’s gone. She couldn’t stand that she’d created you.”

My heart hurt at his words, feeling like something was cracking inside. I hadn’t wanted her to go. I loved her, she was kind to me. I didn’t want to have the flames in my blood. But I couldn’t get them out. I tried to scratch them out. But no matter how much blood fell to the ground, I could still feel the flames underneath my skin. Burning fire scalding my flesh.

Then my baby brother began to scream. I hated his screaming. It hurt my head. I lifted my hands to put over my ears.

“Fuck!” he shouted, then pushed open the door to the house and climbed out, slamming it shut to leave me trapped inside. “Shut your mouth you little cunt!” he roared at my brother. But my brother just screamed all the more.

I rocked on the spot, humming to try to block out the sounds. But I could still hear the screams, I couldn’t block them out. Dropping my hands, I held out my arm and clawed at my skin. I had to get the flames out. If I got out all the flames he would love me. And he wouldn’t shout at the baby. And the baby would stop screaming.